A Story of Hope and Opportunity
Pheng Bolo Thao Her has cherished farming and gardening alongside his mother for as long as he can remember. In 2020, seeking to escape the pressures of urban life and prioritize family, tranquility, and mental well-being, Pheng and his wife purchased a property at 20152 Lake George Blvd in Oak Grove, Minnesota. Pheng notes that the 7 acres of land currently lack foundational infrastructure for the vision of the farm he aims to build, as the farm has only begun to develop over the last few years. However, he remains optimistic about expanding the farm or relocating to a site with existing facilities. He shared, “I always feel a little self-conscious. I don’t know what people expect when they visit. Sometimes, they romanticize farming, envisioning beautiful red barns, land, fences, and more. We are just starting out and don’t have much funding...this is the beginning of our journey here.”
Guerilla Pasture is home to approximately “50 or so” simultaneous projects. For Pheng, this location marks a significant new chapter in his life, especially after feeling “burnt out” in his previous career. His ambition was to initiate pasture poultry farming, where he aimed to “raise meat birds” by moving them to different pastures daily, allowing them to roam freely, before selling them. With limited resources, Pheng and his wife began selling eggs, and as they started beekeeping, interest in the farm increased. Various communities showed enthusiasm for the bees and the practice of beekeeping, which Pheng recently learned is also an integral aspect of traditional Hmong life.
The farm is home to around 14 goats, including several from a recent litter and a pregnant mother. The baby goats participate in various local programs, such as Yoga with Goats and Petting Zoo events. Another initiative involves utilizing existing black walnut trees to create traditional round cutting boards, as they are highly sought after.
While the farm also houses geese, Pheng plans to transition them to another farmer, as they have proven to require more effort than they contribute. He explains, “Here, on the farm, everything must pay its own way. The goats are taken to schools and libraries for petting zoo experiences. With the chickens, we get both eggs and meat. The dogs protect all my animals. The geese were meant to safeguard the hens, but if there are too many, they tend to flock together. So, I’ll keep just one; they’ll bond with the hens.”
Pheng is also considering acquiring sheep to assist with grazing and maintaining the fields, ensuring that every aspect of the farm is intentional and sustainable. Scattered throughout the property are several beehives, creatively crafted by schoolchildren and visiting students. A fence protects the beehives from roaming goats and other animals that might wander too close.
Guerilla Pastures: A Journey into Sustainable Farming
Recently, Guerilla Pastures secured a small grant, enabling them to initiate essential infrastructure for the farm. The vision is to blend traditional Hmong farming practices with contemporary ecological principles. This approach includes rotating livestock to graze on fields to enhance the health of the topsoil before transitioning those fields for farming. Additionally, it involves creating multiple layers of activities around the farm, such as using branches and trees intentionally cut to clear areas, allowing more sunlight for other plants.
Inspiration Behind the Vision
What inspired this journey? Pheng grew up farming alongside his mother, who had multiple sclerosis and was unable to physically farm due to being wheelchair-bound. However, she still cherished gardening, and Pheng treasured the moments spent with her since his father left when they were young. “I was a mama’s boy through and through, and those were some of the times we spent together,” he reflects.
Pheng began his own small garden, “feeding the neighbors” by strategically planting along the bus line for easy access to this free resource. It was during this time that he realized he wanted to retire on a farm, feeling a deeper connection to his Hmong roots and his mother’s memory. He was fortunate to share his farming ideas with her before her passing, which fueled his desire to support English-proficient Hmong farmers. Consequently, he researched and took on roles to educate others about farming, gardening, and farmers' markets.
Representing a New Generation
“Our generation often views farming as a pastime for grandmas and grandpas…” he states. Pheng feels a sense of pride in representing younger faces in the farming and food resource sector. However, he faces challenges in managing funding, balancing work, farming, and parenting, especially with two young daughters and a baby just a month old. His daughters love to get their hands dirty, exploring the fire pit and chasing animals around the farm. While their mother fusses over dirty laundry, both parents are also proud of how their children are learning with the land.
A Passion for Beekeeping
Beekeeping has long been a passion for Pheng. As a child, he enjoyed the idea, and as an adult, he realized he didn't need permission to work with bees. This discovery opened the door to experimenting with beekeeping on his farm. In his first year, he obtained bees from a local farm and started a small hive, learning from mentors and YouTube videos to “jump into” a larger initiative.
Pheng acknowledges the many opportunities to learn about beekeeping but feels constrained by budget and time. Nonetheless, he decided to dive right in with his first bee hive. “Bees buzzing is the most scary thing,” he recalls, sharing his initial apprehension in overcoming the early challenges of beekeeping. As he posted about the bees, interest grew among others regarding the bees, wax, and larvae, leading to more programming and educational experiences at schools, presentations, and the creation of observation hives in the following years.
He mentioned that the Twin Cities is an excellent place for Hmong folks to engage in unique and creative endeavors, thanks to the strong support available. By year five, he recognized that he lacked the capacity for large scale honey harvesting, hive splitting, and expansion, prompting him to shift his focus in year six. He splits his hives three to four times a year, a relatively small process, but his goal is to meet the community's demands based on the actual production capabilities of the hives. Currently, he manages about 23 colonies and aims to increase that number to around 50. At this stage, his beekeeping efforts are centered on education and community programs. He takes great pride in working with children, schools, and others to teach the art of beekeeping and family farming. Additionally, he is especially proud of the small-scale products he produces, such as honey, lip balm, and wax. Above all, he cherishes the opportunity to instill in his children a